Raymond Sarlemijn

Raymond’s Dance Journey

Born on August 31, 1971, in Amsterdam, Raymond began his dance journey on the streets of the city, performing hip hop, street dance, and electric boogie. His passion for movement soon led him to explore Latin and ballroom dancing, expanding his range and deepening his connection to the art form.

Raymond was first introduced to line dancing at a local club in Amsterdam. Inspired by what he saw on television, he soon pursued more opportunities to grow in the line dance world. This marked a pivotal moment in his career. Not only did he become a well-rounded performer, but he also joined Roy Verdonk and Tom Mickers in their theater production, The Devil Went to Georgia.

For several years, Raymond danced with the Country Dynamics group, touring Europe and performing in shows and workshops. Drawing on his diverse background, Raymond developed his own distinctive style of line dancing, blending Latin and street dance elements. He was among the first to incorporate full-body movement into line dance, not just footwork—earning him the nickname “The Latin Man.”

Raymond began creating shows for Country Dynamics and collaborated on choreography with Roy Verdonk and Darren Bailey. His partnership with Darren Bailey and best friend Michel Platje led him to become the most decorated World Champion in choreography.

His innovation and dedication to the craft elevated him to the highest levels of competitive dance, achieving Superstar/Legend status in the UCWDC and Megastar/Jewel recognition in the WCDF.

Raymond’s accomplishments are extraordinary. He is a 45-time World Champion, and has also won titles as European Champion, Benelux Champion, Norwegian, Swiss, Swedish, Belgian, German, Dutch, and French Champion—among many others and across multiple divisions. Notably, he is the only dancer to win three World titles in choreography at a single World Championship—a feat he achieved twice. He is also the only person to win every choreography category at the WCDF World Championships in Italy.

In 2004 and 2006, Raymond was honored as Best Dutch Choreographer at the Dutch Line Dance Awards. In 2005, at the World Championship in Sweden, he was voted People’s Favorite Choreographer.

Today, Raymond travels the globe teaching, sharing his passion, and inspiring dancers everywhere. He is a respected contest coordinator, judge, and event director for Gold. As head of the World Championships board and a key figure in judge education, he plays a crucial role in shaping the future of line dance.

Renowned in both competitive and social dance scenes, Raymond continues to spread joy, knowledge, and unforgettable experiences wherever he goes.

Best regards,

Raymond Sarlemijn.

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